An attested copy of the accounts, signed by the members of the late Portuguese Junta of Government—­being in my possession, I enclose a copy thereof, which your Excellency can cause to be compared with the original treasury and custom-house books.  I likewise enclose to your Excellency a copy of a gracious communication which I received from His Imperial Majesty—­the original of which, in His Majesty’s own handwriting, is now in my possession.

This will enable your Excellency to judge as to what the understanding and intentions of His Imperial Majesty really are, with respect to the claims of the squadron—­when influenced by the dictates of honour and his own unbiassed judgment.

Nevertheless—­should your Excellency consider it necessary, I have no objection to prosecute the claims of the officers and seamen to the balance before alluded to—­in the Court of Admiralty which your Excellency is about to convene.  But I beg it may be distinctly understood that I hold myself bound not to relax in any way from my determination that these accounts shall be settled, so as to enable me to fulfil the duty which I am engaged to perform to those under my command.

   (Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

To my annoyance Para became the scene of renewed disturbance, and even the life of the President was threatened.  This was disheartening, as evincing a desire on the part of the provinces to pursue—­each its own separate course; proving the deep hold which the counsels of Palmella had taken to promote anarchy by fostering provincial pride—­as a means to promote discord, and thus to reduce the newly-formed empire to insignificance and ruin,—­from the same cause which had befallen the liberated provinces of Spanish America.

Not having been furnished with troops, it was difficult to spare a force to meet this new emergency.  There was no time, however, for hesitation, so I despatched the Atalanta to Para, with a detachment of the best seamen, under the command of Lieutenants Clarence and Reed, upon whose zeal every reliance was to be placed; at the same time sending a recommendation to the President to use the force for the purpose of remitting to me those who had threatened his life, and of overawing those who had been endeavouring to subvert his authority.

The Junta of Fazenda having now assembled, I transmitted to them the following;

GENERAL STATEMENT

Of the money and other property claimed by the squadron on the surrender of the Portuguese authorities of Maranham; in conformity to the laws relative to matters of prize, and the gracious decrees of His Imperial Majesty:—­

Milreis. 
Treasury and custom-house 62,000 000
In bills and debts 147,000 000
Value of artillery, stores, and ammunition,
say 100,000,000 at 1/5th